On Tuesday, 16 June 2026, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met with the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, at the Presidential Palace in Ankara.
The Ecumenical Patriarch, who was accompanied by His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon and the Abbot of the Monastery of the Holy Trinity at Halki, His Grace Bishop Kassianos of Aravissos, expressed his gratitude to the President for the meeting, during which they had the opportunity to discuss, in a cordial atmosphere, matters concerning the Patriarchate and the Romioi (Greek Orthodox) Community.
The discussion focused particularly on the issue of the Theological School of Halki and the prospects for its reopening, within the framework of the dialogue that has commenced between the country’s Ministry of National Education, the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
His All-Holiness and the hierarchs accompanying him returned to Constantinople later the same day.